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Helicopter Crashes Near Richfield Utah Wildfire, Two Onboard

8/8/2026

Summary

Helicopter Crashes

A Sikorsky S64 helicopter crashed near Richfield, Utah, on August 7, 2026, with two occupants.
The lightning-started fire had burned 165 square miles and was 19% contained when the crash occurred.
Over 600 firefighters fought the blaze, which destroyed six structures and forced evacuations.
The FAA and NTSB will investigate, though reaching the site may be hard as fire burns.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office gave no comment on the occupants’ condition.

Summary

Helicopter Transport Crash

Helicopter Transport Services operated the Sikorsky S-64 registered N793HT that crashed near the Three Creeks Reservoir on the southern edge of the Widemouth 2 Fire.
Governor Spencer Cox asked Utahns to keep the crew in their prayers while investigators work.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office coordinated with the fire’s incident command, noting that active fire conditions blocked immediate access to the crash site.

Summary

Fishlake Fire Rages

The blaze burned within the Fishlake National Forest, a federally managed wilderness area in central Utah.
Statewide drought, a record lack of snow and months of dry weather fueled the fire’s rapid expansion.
The fire’s growth underscores a broader pattern of escalating wildfires across the Western United States linked to climate-driven moisture deficits.

History

Historical Context

In the severe drought of summer 1988, Yellowstone National Park experienced its largest recorded wildfire, burning 36 % of the park and costing $120 million to fight. Over 9,000 firefighters, U.S. military personnel, and the Forest Service coordinated suppression, prompting the 1992 National Fire Plan that reshaped federal wildfire policy and emphasized prescribed burns.

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Helicopter Crashes

A Sikorsky S64 helicopter crashed near Richfield, Utah, on August 7, 2026, with two occupants.
The lightning-started fire had burned 165 square miles and was 19% contained when the crash occurred.
Over 600 firefighters fought the blaze, which destroyed six structures and forced evacuations.
The FAA and NTSB will investigate, though reaching the site may be hard as fire burns.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office gave no comment on the occupants’ condition.

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